Police: Harding man stabs brother in neck

Exeter Township police say a Harding man allegedly stabbed his brother following a fight over their mother’s anxiety medication.

Police arrested Daniel Belcher, 30, of 301 Perch Lane, on Tuesday for allegedly stabbing Jeffrey Anselmi, 35, in the neck with a filet knife. Belcher’s and Anselmi’s mother, Carolyn Shannon, 57, also of 301 Perch Lane, was arrested after she allegedly bit an officer’s arm.

Shannon called 911 around 10 p.m. Monday and told the dispatcher her son was bleeding badly. Officers found Anselmi kneeling on the front porch, bleeding from his neck. Behind him, Shannon was yelling “My son is dying, somebody help him,” police said. An officer applied pressure to the left side of Anselmi’s neck.

Anselmi told officers that Belcher had stabbed him, police said. Belcher came out of the house covered in blood, clenched his fists and started cursing loudly, police said.

An officer drew his gun and ordered Belcher to get down. He ignored the command and dared police to shoot him, police said. Shannon then stood between Belcher and the officer, and would not move out of the way, police said.

Belcher was taken into custody and Anselmi was taken to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Trauma Center for treatment. Matthew Van Stone, spokesman at Geisinger Health System, said Tuesday that he did not have an update on Anselmi’s condition.

Belcher told police Anselmi accused him of taking Xanax from their mother and began to fight. Belcher said Anselmi hit him with a chair, broke a computer monitor, and began strangling him, police said. Belcher eventually freed himself and Anselmi left the room. When Anselmi returned to the room and advanced on his brother, Belcher took a fishing filet knife from his pocket and stabbed him in the neck, police said.

Shannon was arrested after refusing to leave the crime scene. She struggled with police and bit an officer’s arm after they attempted to put her in handcuffs, police said. Officers then subdued her with a stun gun.

Belcher was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, one count of simple assault, and one count of recklessly endangering another person. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, unable to pay $50,000 bail set by Magisterial District Judge Joseph Carmody. His preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. June 18 before Carmody.

Shannon was charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of simple assault, one count of obstructing the administration of law, and two counts of resisting arrest. She was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000 bail. Her preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. June 11 before Carmody.

jheckman@citizensvoice.com

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